Watchcase, &amp;c.



C. L. DEPOLLIER.

WATCHCASE, 6w.

APPUCATION FILED FEB- 1. 1915.

Patented May 11, 1915,

CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y;

WATCHGASE, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed February 1, 1915. Serial No. 5,416.

T all whom it may concern: 2 y

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. Daron- LIER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, in the county of Kings, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watchcases, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates particularly to what are commonly known as convertible watches, that is, watches which can be used either as wrist watches or as chatelaine or sautoir watches. Such watches, in order to be used as wrist watches, must be provided at opposite points with two means of attachment to the bracelet. The bow of the watch usually serves as one of such means of attachment and at the opposite point the watch-case is usually provided with a fixed and projecting eye or loop of some sort to which one end of the bracket may be secured. It has been proposed heretofore to provide, as such second means of attachment, something which shall not be readily visible when the watch is in use as a chatelaine or sautoir watch, in order that it may not appear that the wearer is then using a convertible watch, that is, a watch which, from motives of economy, is designed to be used also for a different purpose or in a different way. It has been proposed particularly to provide a device which disappears within or at least lies wholly within the periphery of the watch-case center, so that it shall not be visible except when the watch is seen in edge view and from one side only.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved and inexpensive device of this character which, although not disappearing or lying wholly within the periphery of the watch-case center, shalll nevertheless be so unobtrusive, even when the watch is seen in side view, that it shall not attract attention.

In accordance with the invention the watch-case center is provided at a point opposite the bow, or at each of two points, if desired, with a loop of wire which may be pushed into the watch-case so far that its outer member lies against the periphery of the watch-case and it is not readily seen, but can be pulled out easily to form an eye for engagement with a hook or snap ring or the like. v

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the ac companying drawing in which it is illustrated and in which Figure l is a view in perspective of a bracelet and a watch equipped with the improved device. Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a watch case which embodies one form of the invention, the terminal link of a bracelet being also shown in operative engagement therewith. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the watch-case shown in Fig. 2, partly in section on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the terminal link of the bracelet being also shown. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in section, corresponding t oFig. 2, but with the loop pushed in. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the terminal link of the bracelet as connected with the watch-case through the intermediary of a swiveled snap ring. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views, in section, showing a slightly difierent embodiment of the invention. Fig. 8 is a detail edge view illustrating the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. l of the drawing is shown a wrist or bracelet watch at having an. ordinary bow b to which is attached one end of a bracelet 0, the other end being attached to the watch at a point, as d, diametrically opposite the bow Z), as hereinafter described.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 15 of the drawing, the center 6 of the watch-case, having on one side the back 6 and on the other side the bezel 0 has formed therein at a convenient point, preferably opposite the how 6, or at each of two diametrically opposite points and at one side of the central plane, two small holes 6 and, within the outer wall of the center and underlying the holes 6 a curved guard-plate e. Threaded through the holes 6 are the legs of a wire loop or staple f, its outer part or cross-bar f being adapted to lie snugly against the outer wall of the watch-case center, and slightly flattened or formed with a lip f so that it may be engaged, when it is pushed in, as shown in Fig. 4, by a pin or knife blade or other suitable implement. The legs f are parallel but are curved in one plane, as clearly shown, and are headed at their ends, as at 7. The curving of the legs permits the loop to be pushed in until the bar 7*" lies against the wall of the watch-case center, as shown in Fig. 4, Without projecting too far into the space usually occupied by the works of a watch, the guard-plate e directing and guiding the loop in its movement. The headed ends of the legs prevent the loop from being drawn out of engagement with the watch-case.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the watch-case center e, having as before the back 0 and the bezel 6 is provided, substantially as before, with holes 0, but placed substantially in the central plane of the watch and inclined away from each other as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The center may also be provided interiorly with perforated lugs e and, if desired, with a guard-plate e. In this case a flexible wire 7 is threaded through the holes 6* and through the holes of the perforated lugs and is headed at each end, as at f. \Vhen the wire, engaged by a pin or knife point or any other suitable implement, is pulled out it forms a loop for engagement with the hooked member 0' of a link as shown in Fig. 3, or with a swiveled snap ring 0 as shown in Fig. 5 of a bracelet. \Vhen the watch is to be used as a chatelaine or sautoir watch, the wire loop is pushed in by the thumb or finger, the flexible wire yielding sufliciently to permit this movement, and the central part of the wire then lies snugly against the periphery of the watch-case center. As shown in Fig. 8 the portion of the wire which lies on the surface of the watch-case center might be concealed in part by the usual hinge g.

It will be understood that the invention might be embodied in specific forms other than those shown and described herein and is not restricted to the precise construction illustrated.

I claim as my invention 1- 1. A watch-case having its center formed with two holes extending through it and a wire loop having its legs threaded through said holes and headed to prevent their withdrawal and adapted to be pushed in so that its central portion lies against the surface of the watch-case center.

2. A watch-case having its center formed with two holes extending through it at one side of its central plane and a curved guardplate underlying said holes, and a wire loop having its legs parallel and curved and threaded through said holes and headed to prevent complete withdrawal from engage ment with the watch-case center, said loop being adapted to be pushed in and to have its middle portion raised against the periphery of the watch-case center.

This specification signed and witnessed this 29th day of January A. 1)., 1915.

CHARLES L. DEPOLLIER.

Signed in the presence of FRANoIs J. MURPHY, WVoR'rHINsToN CAMPBELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

